Dynamo visit Sporting KC on Friday for important conference match

The Houston Dynamo will face Eastern Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City at 7:30 p.m. CT Friday before a national television audience in a vital road match at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Friday is the third meeting of the season between the clubs, and Houston’s last chance to directly gain ground in the standings on Sporting Kansas City.

The Dynamo are 12-7-9 (45 points) after 28 games and in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, five points behind first-place Sporting Kansas City, which is 15-7-5 (50 points) through 27 games. A Dynamo win would vault them past New York and Chicago and into second place.

The game will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network and can be heard on KPRC 950 AM and La Ranchera 850 AM. The official Dynamo viewing party will be held at Hooters on Kirby (2519 Southwest Kirby Dr., Houston, 77098).

The Dynamo will try to carry the momentum of a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake on Sept. 6. Sporting Kansas City extended its unbeaten streak to five games with a 2-1 win over Toronto FC on Sept. 1.

Houston is 6-3-5 in regular season meetings with Sporting Kansas City. The clubs met twice in an 11-day span earlier this season, beginning with a 0-0 draw on July 7 in Kansas City. In the return meeting, the Dynamo seized a 2-1 home win, with two goals from Calen Carr, including the winner in the 79th minute.

Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall can break Pat Onstad’s franchise record for shutouts in a season with a clean sheet against Sporting KC. Hall is tied for the MLS lead in shutouts with 11 and has six games remaining to surpass Onstad’s mark.

Sporting Kansas City is led by forward Kei Kamara (10 goals), and U.S. men’s national team midfielder Graham Zusi (12 assists). Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen is tied with Hall for the league lead in shutouts.